Host Your Own Private War
In 1976, a couple guys in New Hampshire were talking about a recent hunting trip one of them had taken to Africa to hunt buffalo. The conversation turned to how they could re-create the excitement, skill and adrenaline rush of the thrill of a hunt, without harming or shooting the “target”.
About a year and a half later, another friend showed them a paintball gun, which had historically been used by loggers for marking trees and cattlemen for marking cattle. The two guys came up with the idea of using the paintball gun to hunt each other. Thus the sport of paintball was created.
In the early 80s, paintball battles started to take shape. These survival games, similar to capture the flag, pitted 12- man (or woman) teams against each other. The initial guns were clumsy and slow loading, the protective gear was makeshift or borrowed from workshops and the paint used was oil-based, leading to the post-battle concept of the “turpentine party”.
Today, the modern paintball player wear special protective gear and use rapid-fire paintball guns that shoot water-based biodegradable, non-toxic gelatin “paint” capsules.
Within about a half an hour of downtown DC is Outdoor Adventures in Bowie, Maryland. As the biggest and oldest paintball park in Maryland, it boasts 14 playing fields over 20 acres.
Paintball battles last about 15 minutes and are played outdoors on wooded fields that are a little larger than a soccer or football field. Outdoor Adventures also has four fields with man-made bunkers and barricades, lights for night play, as well as netted spectators areas.
It’s about shooting accuracy, quickness and stealth and since no physical contact is allowed — men, women, teens and adults can effectively compete against each other. No experience is needed however OA may build competing teams of people with similar experience to keep things fair. So novices will be playing against novices and experts against experts. All games are supervised as well.
Outdoor Adventures Paintball Park
16698 Governor Bridge Road
Bowie, MD 20716
1-800-456-6636
Days and Times - Two sessions per day on Saturdays at 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. and one session on Sundays at 11:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Admission and Equipment Fees - Fees include admission to either the morning or afternoon session, rental of your semi-auto airgun, air fills, paintball harness, goggles, facemask and drinking water. Basic package is $35.00 per person, and includes 100 paintballs. You can also select from other packages - 500 paintballs ($50), 700 paintballs ($55) or for the bad shot and trigger-fingered players… 1,000 paintballs ($65)
Reservations - Call 410-437-7492 or e-mail your request to karen@oapaintball.com.
Requirements - Minimum age – 12 or older, players must attend a safety briefing and sign a written waiver. It’s probably best to wear old, comfortable clothing as well as bringing an extra set of clothing and shoes to change into as your battle clothing may end up covered in “paint”.
Nearest Metro subway station – Largo Town Center - Blue line. The park is about 11 miles east of the Metro on Route 50, so it’s probably best to drive to OA.
Nearest activity if you drop off the kids - The Bowie Town Center and Regal Cinemas at Bowie Crossing are both aout 2 mles away.
Photo credits: all photos courtesy of Outdoor Adventures.
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POSTED IN: Family Fun, Just a Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places, Sports & Recreation
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